Patient safety during COVID

Patient Safety Collaboratives and the Academic Health Science Networks which host them, are supporting their local health and care systems during the response to the COVID-19 outbreak in hospitals, care homes and the community.

There are resources available here for people working in:

• Care homes
• Primary care 
• Hospitals, mental health and community services 

The AHSN Network has published a report on Safer care during COVID-19 as part of the NHS Reset campaign. It illustrates some of the creative ways PSCs supported their local systems during the pandemic and how this experience will be built into future patient safety programmes.

UK-India COVID-19 webinars

The AHSN Network has partnered with the South Asian Health Foundation to set up a series of webinars to support learning and exchange opportunities with clinicians from the UK and India on COVID-19.

The webinar series will run through May 2021, with topics including hospital logistics, mental wellbeing and support for healthcare staff, and the prevention and early management of COVID-19.

Pulse oximetry and remote monitoring guidance

COVID virtual ward models use pulse oximeters to safely monitor and support patients at home, providing an opportunity to detect a decline in the patient’s condition that might require hospital review and admission. Patient Safety Collaboratives are supporting the implementation of COVID virtual wards and the use of pulse oximeters in their local health and care systems.

Spotting serious illness and sepsis

Some people are more at risk than others of becoming unwell very quickly and developing a serious illness such as sepsis. Find out about the tools available to help you recognise physical deterioration and take the appropriate actions.

COVID virtual ward models use pulse oximeters to safely monitor and support patients at home, providing an opportunity to detect a decline in the patient’s condition that might require hospital review and admission. Patient Safety Collaboratives are supporting the implementation of COVID virtual wards and the use of pulse oximeters in their local health and care systems.

Safe tracheostomy care

A toolkit for healthcare staff has been published by the National Tracheostomy Safety Project (NTSP) in collaboration with the AHSN Network and the National Patient Safety Improvement Programmes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to support healthcare staff who are looking after patients with tracheostomies.

Wound care self-care guidance

The AHSN Network is supporting NHS England to develop a national Wound Care Strategy and has developed this guidance in response to the COVID-19 situation.

Only Human: supporting wellbeing during and post COVID-19

The Health Innovation Network has launched a campaign called #OnlyHuman designed to positively support front-line health and care staff to prioritise their physical health and emotional wellbeing needs, which has undoubtedly been affected due to the impact of COVID-19.

You can find more details and download the materials from the Only Human web page.

Support for healthcare workers’ wellbeing

An online package is available to support NHS staff and healthcare students with psychological wellbeing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The package has been developed by Dr Holly Blake from the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with the University of Leicester. It contains information, advice and tips on:

• Psychologically safe work environments
• Communication
• Social stigma
• Accessing social support
• Self-care strategies
• Rest, shift work, fatigue and sleep
• Managing emotions during the pandemic

Helping break unwelcome news

We have worked alongside Health Education England to publish a set of materials and films which aim to support staff through difficult conversations arising from the COVID-19 outbreak.

COVID-19 resources

This document is a summary of some of the official information sources and website links for COVID-19. Information is constantly updated, so keep an eye on the NHS website too.